Glossary of Healthcare Terms

The transfer of digital images between locations, most commonly seen in teleradiology and telepathology.

A form of external benchmarking, similar to process benchmarking, that has the potential to fundamentally change business process by focusing upon identification and comparison of decision-making operations that affect the observed business outcomes.

A company's set objectives that, if met, would satisfy the vision of the organization.

Universities in the Roman Empire where law, theology, and philosophy were taught in addition to medicine.

Under the skin.

Using tables, matrices, abstracts, and so forth to distill a body of information into one or more of its essential characteristics in order to gain a general overview or compare information.

Another name for a patient encounter form.

There are three defined "levels" of supervision for nonphysician practitioners, listed in order of increasing requirements (1) general physician not required to be present, (2) direct physician is immediately available, and (3) personal physician is in the room.

A provider of healthcare services, other than a practitioner, that is permitted to bill under Medicare Part B, including DME, prosthetics, orthotics, x-ray, etc.

A complex and dynamic system through which information and supplies flow upstream and downstream between manufacturers, distributors, purchasers, providers, and consumers.

"As muscles contract, microvolt level electrical signals are created within the muscle that may be measured from the surface of the body. A procedure that measures muscle activity from the skin is referred to as surface electromyography (SEMG)"

An acute care hospital with at least 45 percent of its Medicare discharges involving a surgical procedure.

Suspects are potential clients that have been identified by the consultant. Once identified information is gathered on them, including size of practice, location, site, specialty(s), services, ownership, financial status, and so forth This information is often stored in the consultant's contacts database.

“The SGR is the current mechanism for updating payment rates for physicians’ services and has two key components: an expenditures
target level (measured both annually and cumulatively), and a method for adjusting payment rates over time in an attempt to bring expenditures in line with the target level.”

MSOs created, funded, and essentially governed by hospitals.